- Joined
- Jul 23, 2010
- Location
- Lebanon, MO
(Pomme de Terre Lake) -- Taking a ride around an Ozarks lake will be a little treacherous this fall.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expecting to drain the Pomme de Terre to record lows. Some businesses are already expecting to take a hit.
Dock owners are bracing for rock bottom by the end of September. Their only savior: Mother Nature.
Life on the Pomme de Terre tends to be a little slow this time of year.
"People only really come on the weekends," says Harold Dunning.
This fall, dock and business owners like Dunning are expecting things around the lake to bottom out.
"This will be on rock," says Dunning, referencing part of his dock. "Haven't seen it this low before."
Starting September 7, the Corps of Engineers will take Pomme de Terre to record lows.
"We have got to get this down five feet below normal," says Brad Myers, Pomme de Terre operation manager.
The drawdown is in preparation of overhauling of a basin below the dam. That basin controls the force of the water flowing downstream.
"We'll get it done as quick as we can," says Myers. "It's something that has to happen."
Besides leaving dock owners high and dry, boaters will need to use caution.
"There's stumps and rocks out there," says Myers.
"We've got a little information letter from the Corps that we'll give to each one of them," says Dunning. "Take it easy."
Dunning attributes the drawdown to living on a lake designed for flood control.
"I would rather it be high than low," he says.
But even a sinking lake has its moments.
"It will also get us dock owners the chance to maybe remove some stumps near the docks," says Dunning.
This drawdown's a one-time move to make room in Pomme de Terre Lake for the construction. It will only stay at record lows until the next rain.
Dunning says good rains this fall could have his dock floating again. On the flip side, the engineers don't plan on opening the dam again unless it goes up 24 feet by May.
Come this spring, some dock owners could be complaining about too much water.
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Story from KOLR10.com
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expecting to drain the Pomme de Terre to record lows. Some businesses are already expecting to take a hit.
Dock owners are bracing for rock bottom by the end of September. Their only savior: Mother Nature.
Life on the Pomme de Terre tends to be a little slow this time of year.
"People only really come on the weekends," says Harold Dunning.
This fall, dock and business owners like Dunning are expecting things around the lake to bottom out.
"This will be on rock," says Dunning, referencing part of his dock. "Haven't seen it this low before."
Starting September 7, the Corps of Engineers will take Pomme de Terre to record lows.
"We have got to get this down five feet below normal," says Brad Myers, Pomme de Terre operation manager.
The drawdown is in preparation of overhauling of a basin below the dam. That basin controls the force of the water flowing downstream.
"We'll get it done as quick as we can," says Myers. "It's something that has to happen."
Besides leaving dock owners high and dry, boaters will need to use caution.
"There's stumps and rocks out there," says Myers.
"We've got a little information letter from the Corps that we'll give to each one of them," says Dunning. "Take it easy."
Dunning attributes the drawdown to living on a lake designed for flood control.
"I would rather it be high than low," he says.
But even a sinking lake has its moments.
"It will also get us dock owners the chance to maybe remove some stumps near the docks," says Dunning.
This drawdown's a one-time move to make room in Pomme de Terre Lake for the construction. It will only stay at record lows until the next rain.
Dunning says good rains this fall could have his dock floating again. On the flip side, the engineers don't plan on opening the dam again unless it goes up 24 feet by May.
Come this spring, some dock owners could be complaining about too much water.
__________________
Story from KOLR10.com